The Decline Of Seattle's Creeks

This audio report discusses the creeks of Seattle and how years of neglect, abuse, and pollution have endangered fish species, destroyed wetlands, and caused big problems for the area's storm drainage.

1 minute read

September 7, 2007, 1:00 PM PDT

By Nate Berg


"There are people who tell tales about the time with Seattle's creeks were so thick with salmon, you could walk across their backs from one bank of the creek to the other. Fish still live in most of Seattle's urban waterways. But by the early 21st century, some fish are dying before they can spawn. Pollution has fouled the waters; culverts and other human development block the fish from reaching their spawning grounds. And every time in rains here in Rain City, a cocktail of toxic chemicals runs into the creeks with the storm water flow. In the second part of her series, 'Our Big Backyard', KUOW's Marcie Sillman looks at the impact of urbanization of Seattle's urban creeks."

Wednesday, September 5, 2007 in KUOW

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